City Waives Parking Tickets For Intoxicated Would-Be Drivers

Without an actual show of hands, how many of you have driven downtown, maybe had one too many drinks but drove home because, according to how your thought processes were working at the time, you didn’t want to have your car towed or ticketed by leaving in its parking spot overnight and getting a cab? We’re guessing a good number of you have. Well, thankfully, the City of Austin has decided they’re going to be more than reasonable about the whole situation.

You may have noticed than the electronic parking kiosks downtown now give you the option to purchase time for overnight parking if you realize you aren’t going to be able to safely drive your vehicle home that evening. Finally, responsibility will no longer be rewarded with parking tickets.

That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind in regards to parking downtown:

Parking enforcement does not kick in until 8am on weekdays and 11am on Saturdays. So, if you’re able to wake up, sober up, get to your car and move it before then, you should be fine.

The City of Austin will not tow your car for leaving your car in a metered spot overnight. So, even if your parking kiosk doesn’t have an overnight option, you don’t have to worry about your car vanishing into the night. At least, not by a tow truck, anyway.

If you find yourself with a ticket because you didn’t drive home, simply take your taxi receipt or bus/train ticket to the Department of Transportation on 1111 Rio Grande St. to get the fee waved.

Keep in mind the regular bus and train hours (check the schedules here) as well as the E-Bus that runs through the UT Campus as well as Riverside Dr until 3am for a dollar.